Projects in CBD earn council accolades

The Auckland City Council's efforts to make the CBD a livelier and more happening place have been rewarded in this year's Creative Places Awards.

The council won the Arts provision: City and Regional councils category for its events strategy and CBD public activity strategy at the Local Government New Zealand Conference in Wellington yesterday.

The events strategy examined ways to support major events across the city including the Pasifika, Lantern and Auckland festivals and to create a vision and key themes which supported Auckland's strengths and identity.

The CBD public activity strategy looked at how to enliven the central city through local events and street-level activity.

Judges at the event said both strategies were impressive pieces of work which saw the council striding out on new ground in response to its arts agenda

"The events and initiatives suggested in these strategies for Auckland's CBD will rejuvenate the area, leading to significant social, cultural and economic benefits for the region."

Liz Civil, team leader arts planning, was also awarded the outstanding individual contribution award.

Ms Civil has been behind a number of Auckland's most significant projects including the council's arts planning document, the Arts Agenda, Auckland City's Arts Alive programme and the New Theatre Initiative.

The Creative Places Awards, presented annually by Creative New Zealand, recognise local government's vital investment in the arts of New Zealand.

They also celebrate innovative arts projects that have enhanced the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of their communities.